Abu Dhabi: The UAE's Khalid Al Qubaisi hopes his success with
Team Abu Dhabi by Black Falcon can inspire a new generation of young
Emirati drivers to achieve great things in the international motorsport
arena.

Al Qubaisi returns to action in Friday's Gulf 12 Hours at Yas
Marina Circuit aiming for the first of two endurance racing successes in
the UAE within a month of each other.

But, beyond this weekend's victory bid and his pursuit of a
third successive win in next month's Dunlop 24 Hours of Dubai, Al
Qubaisi, as Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Racing, has much broader
targets.

"The overall aim is to create more opportunities for young
Emirati drivers to enter the international motor racing arena, and
achieve success for themselves, and the UAE," he said.

"The government has made a huge investment in motor sport in
recent years, and it's essential that we discover, and develop, the
best young local talent to create our own future champions.

"This is what we need to inspire more young Emiratis to come
into the sport and give it a bright future here, and of course I'll
be very happy if my own achievements can help."

Two months ago, Al Qubaisi announced the launch by Abu Dhabi Racing
of a partnership with the National Health Insurance Company - Daman to
establish a driving academy which will groom young Emiratis to become
professional racing drivers.

The first batch of seven UAE Nationals selected for the Daman Speed
Academy, including his 13 year old daughter, Amna, immediately began an
eight-month training programme based at Yas Marina Circuit. The ultimate
aim is to produce the first Emirati Formula One driver.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi Racing will boost its presence in the FIA Middle East Rally Championship next year, with three more young Emirati
drivers, Saeed Bintouq, Mansoor Bel Helei and Juma Al Falasi, taking
their place in a six-car line-up.

The other cars will be driven by Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi, the Abu
Dhabi Racing chairman, and

Mohamed Al Mutaw and Mohamed Al Sahlawi, who enjoyed Middle East
and World Rally Championship action with the team this year.

In tomorrow's (Friday) Gulf 12 Hours, which consists of two
six-hour races separated by a two-hour break, Al Qubaisi shares the
driving with Germany's Bernd Schneider and Dutchman Jeroen
Bleekemolen in the lead AMG SLS GT3 entered by Team Abu Dhabi by Black
Falcon.

Dutchman Kls Hummel, Britain's Adam Christodoulou and
Sweden's Andreas Simonsen drive the team's second car, and
both vehicles, and the drivers' helmets, will carry the name of
Sean Edwards, the team-mate who was killed in a track day accident in
Australia two months ago.